From last weekteam, the Getty Pictures has begun to offer millions of free photos provided that users have to pass them on their websites with an iframe code provided by the company. The Electronic Frontier Foundation warns that there are some privacy implications for those using these photos.
Getty Images took the decision to offer the photos for free because many of them are already freely available on the internet and it is very difficult to start lawsuits against those who illegally use the content of the site.
Currently, Getty Images reports that it does not store the information gathered through the code used by webpages using free images. However, the company seems to use the data at some point.
Like Google Analytics and YouTube, Getty Images iframe collects data about the users who visit the page where the code is placed.
It can record e-mail addresses, Internet browser information, computer information, and the URL of the web page where the photo is displayed. Of course, we should also mention the tracking cookies distributed by the service.
"The problem is, unfortunately, a fundamental property of the web as we know it. The situation with Getty is particularly worrying. "For one thing, given its scale and popularity, the code distributed by Getty Images can appear in a significant number of different sites that a single user visits." Parker Higgins of the EFF.
"This will allow Getty to relate more information about the user's browsing history from each individual web page. This information, in turn, can be made available to any government, or sold to data buyers, or even leaked if the service is compromised by hackers. ”
FromfaceGetty told the EFF that they currently do not collect data "beyond what is necessary." However, the situation can change at any time.
In addition, all data transmitted through an unencrypted HTTP connection, allow others to track the traffic.
In addition to using HTTPS, EFF also believes that Getty should "clearly and publicly explain all their practices and minimize the data it collects and stores from users of the service."
The EFF added: "Even if the company adheres to current minimum data collection standards, they should commit and use Do Not Track as an option: if users do not want to be tracked, Getty Images should adhere to it in full. . ”
